Gators Focus On Snapping Skid At Tallahassee.

By society's physical standards, Harvey certainly is considered an adult.

But where was the youngest member of Florida's roster the last time the Gators defeated Florida State in Tallahassee? He was barely out of the womb.

Harvey was 20 days old.

"A lot of these guys weren't even born yet," center Mike Degory said.

Actually, that's not quite true. But perhaps the notion will offer Degory's teammates some added motivation.

There's a harsh reality hovering over this weekend's rivalry game: Without a win Saturday, Florida's next class of freshmen will not be able to say they were even alive the last time the Gators won in Doak Campbell Stadium.

Not since Nov. 29, 1986, when Kerwin Bell hit Ricky Nattiel for a fourth-quarter touchdown pass, has Florida had a happy trip home from Tallahassee. Since then, the Gators have gone 0-7-1.

So why would this Florida team -- at 6-4 with a lame-duck coach -- think it could accomplish what even the 1996 national championship team could not?

Perhaps it's because the Gators feel like they finally have nothing to lose.

"It won't be a surprise to us if we win," sophomore wide receiver Jemalle Cornelius said. "We expect to go up there and win. We play every game to win. It wouldn't be a surprise."

Still, it would be a surprise to plenty of others. In his only trip to Tallahassee as head coach, Ron Zook's Gators lost 31-14 despite Florida's better ranking. In the past two trips, the Gators have been outscored 61-21.

Former coach Steve Spurrier never coached his team to a win at Doak, either. Ironically, the most painful game was actually the only time Florida didn't lose.

In 1994, the Gators blew a 31-3 lead in the fourth quarter, ending the game in a 31-31 tie. The showdown became known as "The Choke at Doak."

But Florida's players are attempting to put the past behind them. The Gators seek to keep their focus on the game, rather than the history. Their defense? Florida isn't trying to defeat the stadium. Instead, they're trying to defeat the players.

"It's a tough place to play, but it's also a tough team to play," Degory said. "It's been 18 years since we've won there, but all we can do is concentrate on the 2004 game. It's going to be our main focus. Hopefully, on Saturday, we can change things. It's a big game.

"You want to win it regardless."

DARK DAYS AT DOAK

Florida hasn't defeated Florida State in Tallahassee since 1986, when the Gators won 17-13. Results of Florida-Florida State games in Tallahassee since 1986: